Iceflame raced back to camp, Viper- Viperkit?!- still behind her. They burst into the clearing. The cats stopped in their work as they saw her and Viperkit behind her. A stunned silence met, then as soon as Adderstar appeared, Slitherstrike yowled.
"Who is he? Is he one of Opal's?"
Iceflame shook his head, glancing at Adderstar.
"He was with me when I was in Opal's base. He... He was Viperkit..."
A shocked silence stunned every cat, then the bushes to the elder's den rustled and Tawnytail stuck her head out, eyes flashing annoyance.
"What's the sudden stop? Opal may attack any-"
She stopped and stared at Viper.
"No..."
She yowled with happiness and sped with amazing speed to the Tom. She rubbed her face in his fur and purred.
"My kit! My kit! Viperkit! You came back! You came back..."
Viperkit stared at her.
"Mother?"
Tawnytail stepped back. Iceflame stared at them. She vaguely remembered Tawnytail when she was in the nursery- she was a beautiful, sleek queen with glowing blu eyes. Iceflame had been too young to remember the kits, but she had remembered playing with them until one day, they disappeared. She had kept asking Ashblossom, the queen that had took care of her- where the other kits had went. The queen had said she didn't know, then would change the subject. She purred at the happy reunion. Tawnytail murmured.
"My little kit. All grown up!"
Adderstar padded forward, eyes glowing with happiness.
"We'll happily welcome your son back as a warrior in this Clan.," he mewed, looking at Viper with shining eyes. Viper dipped his head
"Thank you. I remember you when you were an apperentice! You used to play with me."
Adderstar purred.
"I remember as well. "
Viper nodded. Slitherstrike suddenly called out,
"But what about his training?"
Adderstat glanced at him.
"He has had good training in the wild, Slitherstrike."
The brown Tom say down, nodding. Adderstar immediately jumped onto the fork branch and looked down at the already-gathered warriors.
" we welcome one of our long-lost Clanmates back into our Clan."
His warm gaze looked slowly over the Clan.
"We welcome back Viper into our Clan. He shall receive his warrior name, for his time away from the Clan has caused him pain."
He looked at the red-streaked tom.
" viper, do you promise to protect the Clan, even with your life?"
The tom's voice was clear and strong as he said,
"I do. "
Adderstar nodded.
"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. From is moment on, you will be known as Viperfang!"
The Clan yowled.
"Viperfang! Viperfang! Viperfang!"
Viperfang sat with his head high, and he turned his head to give Iceflsme a wink. Iceflame purred back and rubbed his muzzle as he came.
"Good job."
She whispered. Viperfang looked at her, then licked her nose, closing his eyes.
Iceflame glanced behind him and saw Adderstar looking at them, the glowing in his eyes faltering a bit. He turned his head and started talking to Poisonflight. Iceflame pulled back from her friend.
Ferndust appeared behind from Iceflame.
"Hey," she greeted Viperfang, " I'll show you around the camp. Poisonflight told me to. Iceflame, can you take a walk with me for a while?"
Iceflame nodded, and followed her to the basking rocks, where her friend started talking in a low voice.
"It's nothing important compared to the things going around now, but I think I need to tell you"
Iceflame glanced at her.
"What?"
Ferndust looked around before speaking again.
"There are rumors of you and Adderstar being mates, and now there are new ones about Viperfang.'
Iceflame growled.
"I am not his mate."
Ferndust kept silent, and Iceflame remembered Her friend's crush on the leader. Then Ferndust turned her head.
"I believe you. She mewed simply, before getting up and stretching. She flicked Iceflame's ear quickly before going after the crowd that was surrounding Vipersrrike. Tawnytail was sticking close to her son's fur, eyes full of bittersweet love. Iceflame inspected Viperstrike. He was handsome. He had a good body, lean and strong, and his eyes were mesmerizing. His pelt was midnight black and tinged with silver, the color patched with different shades of black, like a tree's shadow under moonlight. His ears had white tips, and his tail was very long. There were red highlights all over his mottled body. She stretched before grooming her own silver-white shrine. Her pelt was also inquisitive. It was mainly off-white, but there was a tinge in there that reminded someone of the new moon's silver glow. It was like liquid ,moonlight. Pure, midnight black tipped her ears and a small slash of the same black was across her neck. Gray tabby marking ran across her body in small, fading dashes. Her tail-tip was orange, and it matched the liquid silver flecks in her green eyes, which reminded one of leaves and frost. It was green, yes, but they were also frosty, Sharp, and intelligent. Her chest was white, barely visible against the rest of the fur. She jumped as she felt Adderstar's pelt brush beside her. She turned her head to see the leader settle down beside her. She quickly sat up straight. Adderstar started.
"Hello, Iceflame."
"Hello, Adderstar."
The leader hesitated.
" Viperfang is a very nice cat, isn't he?"
Iceflame twitched her ear.
"Yes, he is." She replied cautiously.
" he took good care of me when I was in Opal's base. "
She caught a faint glimmer of jealously in the golden pools- an emotion she never expected to see in those eyes. Adderstar swiped his tongue over his jaws.
"Do you want to come hunting with me?"
Iceflame nodded.
"Sure.."
Adderstar lead the way to the forest, flicking his tail over the green leaves as he pushed through. Iceflame slid through, shaking her head to free the leaves clinging to her pelt. Adderstar bounded forward a few paces, disappearing into the trees. Iceflame scurried after him. He was no where in sight.
"Adderstar?"
No reply. Iceflame walked quicker.
"Adderstar?"
She stopped, scenting the air. Suddenly the bushes rustled and the black Tom jumped onto her, pinning her down with glowing gold eyes. He purred. He hesitated before letting her up, as if he enjoyed the feeling of her fur under him. Iceflame hissed indignantly before rolling him over with a gentle swipe of her paw . He purred with laughter as he crouched, tail-tip twitching. He looked like an excited kit, unlike the leader he was. He rolled over in the crips leaves, and Iceflame locked her back fur.
"That was fun." He mewed, anxiously looking at her. Iceflame smirked as she waved her tail for silence. A brief moment passed before she jumped into the bushes and dragged out a vole. Adderstar walked over to her, sniffing the fresh prey. He swiped his tongue over his lips.
"Mmm. Want to share?"
Iceflame nodded and settled beside him, chewing on the succulent flesh. They sat in silence after the prey was gone, laying sprawled on top of basking-rocks. Iceflame washed her fur again, wanting to do something, while Adderstar echoed the warm sun, eyes closed I'm bliss. They stayed there until the sun was High in the sky. Iceflame woke from her sleep, finding that Adderstar had dozed off. She decided to leave humble. He must be tired after all the days of stress from Opal. She stretched quickly before going back, but she was stopped on the way by Viperfang.
"Hi!"
Iceflame waved her tail.
"Hey, Viperfang."
She padded towards him and brushed against his pelt, then yawned, heading towards the fresh-kill pile. Viperfang followed her.
Viperfang picked his mouse and settled beside Iceflame, who was gulping down a vole. He was quiet, more like his old, silent self than the bouncy one he was when he came home. More like himself. More like the cold, but reliable ally Iceflame knew.
Viperfang finished his mouse and moved over to Iceflame, grooming her fur. Iceflame started before grooming his back. They shared rogues in the lazy sun. The camp was empty. Suddenly the stoked stopped and Viperfang looked at Iceflame. His cold, blue eyes were gazing right into her. They blinked, breaking the trance, but the eyes were still the chips of ice.
"During moon-high, meet me outside the warrior's den, okay?"
Iceflame nodded, her belly squirming uncomfortably at his inset she gaze.
Don't tell me you love me...

Night came quickly as the day passed lazily. Iceflame slept a while before a long stick prodded her in the side. Without looking, she knew it was Viperfang. She growled silently before getting up and padded out. Sure enough, the black red-streaked Tom was outside, his jaws gripping a long branch. Very long. Very thick. Iceflame stared at him. It must be very, very heavy-and so why could he hold it in his jaws?!
"Where did you get that? Did it snap off the root pile?"
He shook his head, mumbling around the root.
" I snapped it off."
Iceflame gaped. That was impossible. Viperfang set the root down and beckoned for her into the forest.
In the dark, silver-tainted trees, Viperfang's coat turned to shimmering silver. He looked at her.
" Iceflame. You must be wondering why I can carry that stick, don's you?"
Iceflame nodded, transfixed on the ice-blue eyes that danced silver in the moonlight.
" I have a special power."
Silence spread. Iceflame looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
"I feel no burden or exhaustion, no matter how heavy an object is. I can move it without any thought."
I eg,ame shook her head silently.
''Then why tell me this?"
Iceflame breathed. Somewhere, somewhere in her, told her that it had plenty to do with her... Viperfang closed his eyes.
"Because... Because you are the Second."
Iceflame blinked.
Viperfang went on.
"I had a dream while I was at Opal's base. I saw myself, and I saw this fiery orange tom walk out of the bushes. He said that I was the First one. I don't know what it means- until I remembered that I never, ever, said I was tired. So when no one was looking, I pushed against the wall. Sure enough, a crack appeared. "
Viperfang looked ather.
" and when I saw you... Something told me... Deep inside.. That you were the Second one. Firestar said there would be five." Then he closed his eyes.
" and two will die, leaving three."
Iceflame stared at him.
Viperfang drew up.
," Iceflame, go and sleep. I have a feeling Firestar would visit you tonight."